Electroplating apparatus.



G. A. LUTZ.. ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 13160.30, 1911.

1,090,926. Patented Max: 24, 19m

2 SEEBTS-SHEET 1.

G. A. LUTZ. ELEGTROPLATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1911.

1,090,926. Patented Mar. 24, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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. orvrrnn GEORGE A. LUTZ, (3F PLAIZNFIIELD, llll'iiif JERSEY, fi$$1l OR TU EJEERIGAN OIERG'ULAI'L LOQM COMPANY, OF PGETLAND, MAINE, A CURPUEATIUN 0F MAQINE.

ELEGEIWZPFQAIINE? flil i xlilchi fili l.

Patented lhiarc 234i, ll d jlle h Application filed December E50; 1911. Serial No. 668,602.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that L GnononA. Lo re, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Plainlield, in thecodnty of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Electroplating Apparatus, of which the following, is a specification. J

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting a plurality of articles, such as pipes or conduits, for simultaneously electroplating the same, and to enuhle itliereo y placing of such articles in position in theirsupporting devices and the removal of the former from the latter as required, whereby a relatively large number of such articles may be expeditiously and econoniicallv plated.

My invention comprises novel details of improvement and combinations of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming parthereof, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a cathode frame embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2, 2, in Fig. 1 of the upper portion of said cathode frame; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section substantially on the line 8, 3, in Fig. 2 or a portion of the cathode frame; Fig. l is a detail plan View of one of the lower rings and seats of the cathode frame; Fig. '3 is a section of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a detail plan View of a modification, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of Fig. 6.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 indicates an upper conductor ring or member and 2 indicates a lower conductor ring or member of the cathode frame, ring :2 being hung or suspended from ring 1 by any suitable number of rods or the like 3.

l indicates a central metallic plate or he: from which conductor rods or arms 4 project outwardly or radially, to which rods the ring 1 is connected by any suitable means, such. by clips 5, whereby said rods 22 d conductor ring are n'lechanically and electrically secured together. At 6 are shown heads or castings secured to ring 1. being shown provided "with jaws 6- receiving said ring, andheld in place by rivets 7. The threaded ends 3? oirods 3 are shown sci-owed into threaded, sockets or bores in heads The threaded endsi ofrods 3 are shown screwed into headsfi (Fig. 2-3) having yaws 8 receiving tl lower ring and Se cured thereto by rivets or bolts 9. The parts described may be of copper or other suitable material according to the electrolyte in which the parts are to be immersed, and said parts constitute cathode frame adapted to be lowered into and raised from the electrolyte in a suitable tank. The plate or head at is shown provided with a rod or hook 10 for connection with any suitable tackle from an overhead crane or other device, for raising and lowering and moving the frame about with its attached articles to be plated.

The frame may be provided with any desired number of ring-like conductors. l

have illustrated an inner upper ring'lilie conductor l and an inner lower ring like ...conductor 9*, both within the rings 1 and? respectively, the conductor 1 having any desired number of heads 6* secured thereto in the manner described with respect to heads 6, the ring 2- being secured to rods 3, by heads similar to the heads 8 that are connected to ring Qand rods 8, for supporting the ring 2 from ring 1 at a suitable distance from the latter. The up erconductor rings 1 and l are provided with depending guides 11. adapted to enter the hollow arti oles 12 to be plated which, in the illustration, are shown in the form of pipes or conduits. Said guides are shown in the form of relativelyshoi't rods secured bythreads to heads 13 having jaws 13 receiving rings 1, l, and secured thereto by rivets or the like 14:. By means of the threaded connec provided. with upwardlyextending cone-like members as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein spaced conductor rings 1, l are provided and the heads 6 for rods 3 rest upon the ring members 1, 1, and have depending bosses'tl? between the rings 1, 1 receiving the suspension rods 3. The heads 6 may be secured upon rings 1, l .by screws 7. 1

In accordance with my improvements, the parts of the-cathode frame are all secu rely united together, and the rods 3 form part of the circuit between the upper andlower rings. When, the hollow, articles, tobe plated, such as ipes 12, are to be inserted in the cathode t i'ame, their upper ends are passed over the depending guides or rods 11 and raised sufficiently to allow the lower ends of such-articles to be rested upon'the seats 15, upon whicljrsaid articles are then lowered, whereby said? hollow articlesmay be quickly "and accurately. applied in position and are retained-upon. seats 15 by the rods 11 which ide the upperends of'the pipes. When t e pipes are to be removed I they are lifted ed the seats 15 and then lowered from rods 11.

The arrangement set forth atfordsa simple and efiicient means for electrically uniting with a cathode frame a relatively large cathode willbe suspended in the electrolytic bath in which suitable anodes are, located and connected in the circuitin any well known manner.

My improvements may be used asthe cathode in an electroplating apparatus such as set forth in my application filed January 11, 1911, Serial No. 601,345, for improve-- ments in electroplating apparatus, the p0rtions of the arms 4:- extending beyond ring 1 being supported upon the terminals or supports tor the cathode above the tank de scribed in said application. Furthermore,

nooaeee by having:- cone-like' seats ior the hollow articles to be plated, such seats will accomniodate such articles of different dimensions without requiring the seats'to be removed and replaced-3 for instance, the cone-like parts 1 5 may? be so shaped as to support pipes, orconductors of varying dimensions, as from inch to 1. inch bores.

Havingnow described my invention what '1. Acathode comprising a frame having inner and outer upper rings, bars, connect- 111g said rings, and-inner and outer lower rings suspended from-the upper rings,seats 0n the lower rings for articles to be plated,

and guides on the upper rings for said arlticles.

2. A cathode comprisiug a frame having inner and-outer upper rings, bars connecting said rings, a plate secured to the inner- .ends of said bars, and inner and outer lower rings suspended from the upper rings, seats on the lower rings for articles to be plated,

said seats having upwardly projecting conelike portions to receive said articles, and

guides on the upper rings for said articles.

3. A cathodecomprising a frame having inner and outer upper rings, radial bars co'nnectin said s, a plate secured to the inner en s of 5 211 bars, inner and outer lower rings suspended from theiupper unis, e

seats on thelower rings for articles to plated, said seats having upwardly project-- ing cone-like portions to receive sard arti cles,'said cone-like portions having recesses, and guides on the upper rings forfsaid are ticles.w 3

' 4. A cathode comprising a frame having inner and outer upper ,ring'sspaced apart, radial *bars connecting said rings, a metallic plate substantially in .line with the inner sa and secured to the'inner ends of said liars, spaced guides depending from said rings, inner'and outer lower rings suspend-l ed respectively from the inner. and outer upper rings, and seats-on the lcwer rings-loo beneath the corresponding'guides.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 29th dayof December, A. D. 1911.

I, I GEORGE A. LUTZ.

Witnesses: RALPH H. RAlI-IAEL, T. F. .Bounnn. 

